CV

DAVID S. LEITNER

DSLEITNER@ANTHROPOSINSIGHT.COM

PhD. Candidate in Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge. (Expected Spring 2011). Dissertation: Making Relations: idioms of ‘the network’ and ‘connection’ in UK university-industry relationships and bioscience policy.(Supervisor: Prof. Marilyn Strathern)

2005

Certificate of Proficiencyin French (Intermediate), Cambridge University Language Program, University of Cambridge.

2005

MPhil. in Social Anthropology Research, Joint Schools in Social Science Research Methods Course, University of Cambridge (High Pass) Dissertation: Intangible Technologies: an exploration of networking in the UK biotech sector.(Supervisor: Prof. Marilyn Strathern)

Introduction to social and cultural anthropology; Magic, witchcraft and religion; The anthropology of science, technology and medicine; The history of anthropological thought; Fieldwork and ethnographic methods; Social Networks and Kinship; Gifts, commodities, reciprocity and exchange.

Guest Lecturer – Participant Observation and Ethnographic Interviewing.MPhil.(SAR) program. Deptartment of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge: Designed, organized and taught a series of lectures for post-graduate students on the Joint Schools in Social Science Research Methodology Course. (Overseen by Dr. Sian Lazar – MPhil SAR Tutor)

2006-2007

Dissertation Supervisor – Undergraduate Honours Thesis.Deptartment of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge:Supervised a 3rd year undergraduate dissertation student. The student received a starred first (the highest possible mark, very rarely given) for his dissertation and has since published it as an article. (Overseen by Dr. Maryon McDonald – Director of Studies, Archaeology & Anthropology, Robinson College)

2004-2005

Tutor – Essay Writing and English as a Second Language. Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge:Tutored a non-native English speaking undergraduate to improve her essay and exam writing skills. Specifically focused on English grammar, writing structure, and forms of rhetorical argument, particularly those expected in the ‘Cambridge essay’. (Overseen by Dr. Nikolai Ssorin-Chaikov – Director of Studies, Archaeology & Anthropology, Sidney Sussex College)

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Social networking as a folk model for social relations; the social aspects of innovation and creativity in the arts and sciences, and the social and cultural worlds of Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

Making Relations – PhD fieldwork – 2004-present.An investigation of the socio-cultural meanings of ‘social networking’ in the high-tech cluster in and around Cambridge, England. Conducted long-term ethnographic fieldwork including participant observation, collecting interviews, artifacts, documents and stories related to social networking.

The Technologies of ADHD – Independent Research – 2007-present.An investigation of the socio-cultural significance of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and new media technologies. Conducting ethnographic research in online and off-line patient and professional communities.

Academics and infidels : conceptual constructions of science, democracy, and the other in U.S. Creation/Evolution debates. – Senior Honors Thesis – 2001-2002.Conducted six months of archival and multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork with anti-evolutionist student groups and as a volunteer at the pro-evolution National Center for Science Education.

Summer Research Apprentice Project – Summer 2001.Awarded a $2000 stipend to conduct archival research for the Office for the History of Science and Technology at U.C. Berkeley on the history of research administration at the university.

PAPERS PRESENTED:“Reckoning the Familiar: Social Networks, Social theory and explaining the Social.” Presented at Theory in Dialogue: When our informants read the same books we do.AAA Annual Meetings 2009, 2 December 2009, Philadelphia, PA“Evoking Ignorance: Knowing and unknowing network others in a UK biocluster.” Paper presented at Anthropology of Ignorance and Unknowing, 22 September 2009, St. John’s College, Cambridge, UK“Deficient Brain, Extraordinary Self: Triangulating subjective experience, social persons and biological selves in para-ethnographic accounts of ADD and ADHD – an exploratory study.”Paper presented at Vital Politics III, 16 September 2009, London School of Economics, UK

“Reflexive Scepticism and Ethnographic Familiars: Finding something to say in the network.” Paper presented at the 10th European Association of Social Anthropologists Biennial Conference, 27 August 2008, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

“The Network Never Fails, People Fail to Network.” Paper presented at Technologies of Surveillance: Fear, Faith and Expertise in U.S. Context, AAA Annual Meetings 2007, 9 December 2007, Washington, D.C.

“Exchanging Relations and Public Good: ‘Social networking’ in the bioeconomy.” Paper presented at Public Knowledge, 29 June 2007, CRESC, University of Manchester, UK.

“Making Health and Wealth in the Bioeconomy: Innovation, knowledge, and public good.” Paper presented at 9th European Association of Social Anthropologists Biennial Conference, 17 September 2006, University of Bristol, UK.

“A Successful Future: Networking, innovation, and the market as a moral agent in Cambridge bioscience (Notes from the Field).” Invited seminar paper delivered at Chimera Institute for Socio-Technical Innovation and Research, 12 April 2005, Ipswich, UK.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:“Self Interest / Public Good.” Paper presented at Dark Places – Corporate Personae. Sponsored by the Arts Catalyst and SCAN, 30 May 2007, SPACE Gallery, The Triangle, London, UK.This paper was delivered as part of an artistic experiment in corporate ‘identity correction’ through artistic practice. Organized and performed by Lucy Panesar. (http://www.artscatalyst.org/projects/detail/corporate_personae/)

HONORS, GRANTS & AWARDS2003-2006 Overseas Research Studentship (ORS),Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme (ORSAS), Higher Education Funding Commission of England:£14,400 (approx. US$25,200) competitive award for the difference between home and international student fees for the duration of an MPhil/PhD course.2003-2006 Cambridge Overseas Trust (COT) Fees Bursary Award,The Cambridge Trusts, Trinity College, Cambridge: £8,610 (approx. US$15,498) competitive award for total cost of University fees not covered by the ORS for the duration of an MPhil/PhD course.2002 High Honors in Anthropology / Highest Distinctionin General Scholarship (Top 3% of graduating class). U.C. Berkeley.

2001 Summer Research Apprenticeship,Office for the History of Science and Technology (OHST), U.C. Berkeley, Berkeley, California: US$2,000 to conduct archival research for an OHST study of the history of research funding and administration at U.C.Berkeley.